Public sector workers in mass strike across Britain

LONDON, July 10 (Xinhua) -- A mass public sector workers strike is hitting Britain, with hundreds of schools closed on Thursday morning.

Teachers, council staff, firefighters and civil servants are taking part in the action in a series of disputes with the government over pay.

It was estimated that as many as 2 million public sector workers were out on strike, which might be the country's largest strike in three years.

British media said that East Midlands has about 240 partially or fully closed schools.

In Leicester, the strike had led to the closure of adult social care centers, galleries, museums and leisure centers across the city as well as many council offices.

Frances O'Grady, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said: "Across the public sector workers are on strike today to say enough is enough. Year after year pay has failed to keep up with the cost of living. Public sector workers are on average more than 2,000 pounds (3,424 U.S. dollars) worse off under this government."

TUC is a major federation of trade unions in Britain with over 6 million members.

British Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the strike through his Twitter account. He said the "public sector strikes are wrong. Labour should be clear and condemn them: no ifs, no buts."

The Cabinet Office issued a statement this morning saying the action would "achieve nothing".

While hundreds of schools are closing their doors for the day, a spokeswoman from the Department for Education said: "There is no justification for further strikes. The unions asked for talks, we agreed to their request and talks are ongoing."